The successful campaign of US President-elect Donald Trump has served as a warning sign to those upholding multilateralism and globalisation as the way out for a troubled world. In light of growing populism spreading across continents, Bright Hong Kong hosted on 8 December a dialogue with Professor Jack Goldstone on the implications of a Trump presidency on social, business and democratic institutions.

Themed “Outlook on The US Elections: The Paradox of Democracy”, the session was led by Professor Goldstone, a public policy professor at George Mason University and Bright Hong Kong member. Nikolaus Graf-Lambsdorff, Consul General of Germany, and Damián Martínez Tagüeña, Consul General of Mexico, were also present alongside Director General of Bright Hong Kong Germán Muñoz.

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Prof Goldstone asserted that while the rise of populism from both ends of the political spectrum is not a recent phenomenon, Trump’s victory did trigger a symbolic effect that would impact people, business and democratic institutions worldwide. A major concern is his contempt of the US Constitution and the international law system in general. It was a general agreement that this situation could be the starting point to very hard times.

It was agreed upon by the participants that the uncertainty produced by the electoral result in the United States has brought with it unpredictable situations that must be faced by new styles of democratic leadership.

Alex Fok is a Harbour Times journalist monitoring Hong Kong’s daily political scene and diplomatic updates. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Economics, Politics and International Studies from University of Warwick and his master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a former committee member of the Warwick-based Hong Kong Public Affairs and Social Service Society (WHKPASS) and was the chief editor of the society’s magazine – PASSTIMES.